Resting in the Arms of Our Savior. Restful Repose, Part 11 and Flying Like an Eagle, Part 2

Last time we discovered that the Sabbath had been given to the Israelites as an
opportunity to experience what resting in the Lord truly means. It's true,
though, that for some reason, we humans have a hard time learning how to rest in
the Lord. Thus, when human laws and regulations were added to it in order to
keep its sanctity, the Sabbath day became a burden rather than a rest.

Now that Jesus has clearly shown us the way, we are encouraged to experience His
rest--not only one day a week, but every day (See Heb 4:6-8)!

What does it mean to rest in Jesus' arms?

"For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about
another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God for
anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from
his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one
will perish by following their example of disobedience." (Heb 4:8-11, NIV2)

The rest that we receive by giving all of our burdens to Jesus goes beyond
anyone's imagination. It is a rest that needs to be daily renewed, by focusing
solely on Jesus. Depending on our own resources will always result in our
falling short of this genuine rest. Depending on Jesus will cause any worries to
evaporate. We can be at work and still experience rest amidst our tribulations.
We have nothing to fear.

Jesus' appeal to, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will
give you rest" (Matt 11:28, NIV2) is really true, but we have to be willing to
come to Him and leave all of our worries at His feet.

Truly, "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" (Matt
6:27, NIV2). Instead, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will
worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt 6:34, NIV2)

But what does such rest look like?

I will give you two personal experiences as examples of that rest. One today,
the other one in our next devotional.

If you have read what happened to me last year at Christmas time (See
Terror in
the Night. Flying Like an Eagle, Intro), you will remember that I was in a tough
situation. It is hard to shake off the effects of two anxiety attacks, and no
matter what I did, I proceeded to go through life always experiencing varying
amounts of anxiety.

Sadly, at first I looked for human advice. I went to my doctor, and she advised
that I see a psychologist. My visit to the psychologist turned out to be quite
different than I imagined. It turned out to be an opportunity to witness, even
though I had not yet fully learned how to rest in Jesus' arms.

The psychologist told me nothing was wrong with me and that she truly couldn't
help me. She encouraged me to continue with my own efforts, warning me as she
did that anxiety would always be part of my life from now on.

I also discovered online something called "the tapping method," which is
supposed to relieve anxiety. Unfortunately it didn't work as well as I had
hoped, and I changed this by beginning to focus on Jesus through prayer instead.
That's when I began to experience exceptional situational relief.

Anxiety continued to linger in my life, however, and after two months, I turned
to God and asked Him where it was coming from.

Why hadn't I done this at the beginning?

God made me aware that the anxiety was rooted in the sleep medicine that had
been prescribed to me 5 years earlier, Zoplicone. Some of you are more familiar
with its other name Lunesta, which is actually the same medicine.

Supposedly Zoplicone wasn't addictive, and I had experienced that it had become
less and less effective over time. Thinking back, I realized that on Christmas
day I had decided not to take the medicine. I had never connected the dots until
then, but I realized that this was the trigger for my anxiety attacks.

Encouraged, I researched this topic online. I discovered that several doctors
clearly documented the addictiveness of the medication. They warned that if you
suddenly stopped taking Zoplicone, it could create havoc in numerous ways, one
of which was the onset of anxiety attacks. I would need to gradually tamper off
the medicine, and this is what I immediately began to do. Within 4 ½ months, I
was free of its effects, and more importantly, free from anxiety as well. Oh,
and I also sleep like a baby at night, now!

Never in my life would I have thought to look this up on the Internet. However
that prompting from God's Holy Spirit led me to deliverance. You may wonder why
God did not heal me on the spot. Good question. Still, had I been healed right
away, I would not have experienced how to depend solely on my God during that
time. God became so real to me that now I try to run only into His arms. True,
at times I do err, but my experience during that time makes me hunger for God
more than ever.

Even at work, I rely solely on God. Strangely enough, I am now completely
relaxed while at work. How could it be otherwise? Jesus promises me utter rest
when I come to Him.

You too can experience that rest. You can stop worrying. Come to Jesus instead
and learn from Him how to enjoy life fully.

Will you join me and experience Jesus fully?

Rob Chaffart

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